FILLING DEVICE

Abstract

A filling device (1) comprising a frame (2) and at least one arm (4), the arm (4) being rotationally connected to the frame (2). The device (1) includes translational means (6) connecting the arm (4) to the frame (2), such that the arm (4) can pivot and be moved translationally relative to the frame (2). Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: FILLING DEVICE Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of the food industry, and more particularly relates to the field of filling freezer trays. STATE OF PRIOR ART

[0002] In a known manner, during their production, certain products of the food industry are frozen in plate freezers.

[0003] Thus, for example, it is known to freeze minced meat in a plate freezer. Typically, the meat is projected into the plate freezer by means of a filling arm. In a known manner, a filling arm is a mechanical structure comprising a fixed frame and an arm pivoting relative to the frame. The arm comprises a pipe 16 which allows the food (i.e. the meat) to be transferred and an ejection nozzle.

[0004] Conventionally the arm pivots around the frame, but the movements permitted by known arms do not allow the plates of a plate freezer to be correctly filled.

[0005] In this context, it is necessary to provide a filling device which allows a plate freezer plate to be correctly filled while allowing ergonomic and safe handling for a user. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] For this purpose, according to a first aspect, there is provided a filling device comprising a frame and at least one arm, the arm being rotatably connected to the frame. The device comprises translation means connecting the arm to the frame, so that the arm can pivot and be moved in translation relative to the frame.

[0007] The translational movement of the arm relative to the frame is a particularly clever arrangement which makes it possible to overcome the problems of safety, ergonomics, space requirement and biosecurity of filling plate freezers but also of the homogeneity of the ice pack returned. Indeed, the translational movement of the arm makes it possible to correctly fill a plate freezer plate while allowing ergonomic and safe handling for a user. More precisely, the translational movement of the arm makes it possible to more easily access the entire surface of a plate. In addition, the translational movement of the arm allows more ergonomic handling for a user. Indeed, the translational movement allows a user to manipulate the arm with more natural movements than with the devices of the prior art which can impose non-rotating twists. natural in their handling.

[0008] According to a particular arrangement, the translation means comprise at least one carriage supporting the arm and adapted to be moved in translation relative to the chassis.

[0009] According to a particular arrangement, the arm is connected to the carriage by a pivot connection, so that the arm pivots relative to the carriage and the chassis.

[0010] According to a particular arrangement, the translation means comprise a belt, the belt being adapted to transmit a movement to the carriage to move the carriage and the arm in translation.

[0011] According to a particular arrangement, the translation means comprise at least one pulley adapted to transmit a movement to the belt to move the carriage and the arm in translation.

[0012] According to a particular arrangement, the translation means comprise at least one geared motor assembly adapted to transmit a movement to the pulley to transmit a movement to the belt to move the carriage and the arm in translation.

[0013] According to a particular arrangement, the translation means comprise at least one safety stop making it possible to limit translational movement of the arm.

[0014] According to a particular arrangement, the arm comprises a first part connected to the carriage and a second part pivotally connected to the first part.

[0015] According to a particular arrangement, the arm comprises a pipe allowing the circulation of a food such as meat.

[0016] According to a particular arrangement, the pipe comprises a first part fixed to the first part of the arm and comprises a second part fixed to the second part of the arm, the first part of the pipe and the second part of the pipe being connected by a pivot connection allowing the circulation of food between the first part of the pipe and the second part of the pipe.

[0017] According to a particular arrangement, the arm has a filling head which is fixed to one end of the arm and which is connected to the pipe, the head comprises an ejection nozzle, the nozzle having at least one contact sensor making it possible to stop a translational movement of the arm if the contact sensor presses on a solid element. Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of at least one exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

[0019] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a filling device;

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates a front view of a chassis and a carriage of a filling device;

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates a front view of a frame and a carriage of a filling device;

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates a perspective view of a frame and a carriage of a filling device;

[0023] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates an arm and a carriage and a filling device;

[0024] [Fig.6] schematically illustrates an ejection head of an arm of a filling device.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0026] Filling device

[0027] With reference to Figs 1 to 6, there is provided a filling device 1 comprising a chassis 2 and at least one arm 4. As will be described below, the arm 4 is linked in rotation to the chassis 2. Furthermore, the filling device 1 comprises translation means 6 connecting the arm 4 to the chassis 2, so that the arm 4 can pivot and be moved in translation relative to the chassis 2.

[0028] As will be described below, the translational movement of the arm 4 relative to the frame 2 is a particularly clever arrangement which makes it possible to overcome the problems of safety, ergonomics, space requirement and biosecurity of filling plate freezers but also of the homogeneity of the ice pack returned. Indeed, the translational movement of the arm 4 makes it possible to correctly fill a plate freezer plate while allowing ergonomic and safe handling for a user. More precisely, the translational movement of the arm 4 makes it easier to access the entire surface of a plate. In addition, the translational movement of the arm 4 allows more ergonomic handling for a user.Indeed, the translational movement allows a user to manipulate the arm 4 with more natural movements than with the devices of the prior art which can impose unnatural twists in their manipulation.

[0029] The translation means 6 are a particularly clever arrangement of the invention which will be detailed below.

[0030] Chassis

[0031] The filling device 1 comprises a frame 2 which supports the arm(s) 4. According to the example presented here, the device 1 comprises two arms 4. As shown diagrammatically in Figs. 1 to 4, the frame 2 is a column-shaped structure which can be anchored to the ground. According to the embodiment presented here, the frame 2 comprises four longitudinal beams 22 connected by crosspieces. Typically, the beams 22 and the crosspieces can be welded or bolted. According to the example shown in [Fig.l], the beams 22 each have one end sealed in the ground of the building in which the filling device 1 is used. Anchoring to the ground very advantageously increases the stability of the filling device 1.

[0032] Typically, the beams 22 and the crosspieces are metallic elements.

[0033] According to the example presented here, an electric or electropneumatic control and motorization block is integrated into the chassis 2. As will be described below, this block can be used to power and control the translational movements of the translation means 6. In addition, this block can also be used to control the pumping of food or a fluid, in a pipe 16 to fill freezing plates.

[0034] In addition, the chassis 2 also comprises a pipe 16 for transferring a food or a fluid. As will be described below, the pipe 16 of the chassis 2 is connected to a pipe 16 of the arm 4 for conveying the food or the fluid, from the chassis 2 to one end of the arm 4.

[0035] Means of translation

[0036] As indicated previously, the filling device 1 comprises translation means 6.

[0037] As shown in [Fig.l] to 5, the translation means 6 comprise at least one carriage 8 supporting the arm 4 and adapted to be moved in translation relative to the chassis 2.

[0038] It is specified that according to the example presented here, the translation means 6 make it possible to carry out a translation of vertical axis (i.e. substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ground on which the chassis 2 rests). In addition, as will be described below, the arm 4 is pivotally connected (i.e. in rotation) to the carriage 8. Thus, the carriage 8 very advantageously makes it possible to connect the arm 4 to the chassis 2 according to a pivot-sliding type connection.

[0039] According to the embodiment presented here, the carriage 8 can, for example, be made of folded sheet metal.

[0040] The translation means 6 also comprise a belt 10 adapted to transmit a movement to the carriage 8 to move the carriage 8 and the arm 4 in translation.

[0041] Furthermore, according to the example presented here, the translation means 6 comprise at least one pulley adapted to transmit a movement to the belt 10 to move the carriage 8 and the arm 4 in translation.

[0042] Furthermore, according to the example presented here, the translation means 6 comprise at least one geared motor assembly adapted to transmit a movement to the pulley to transmit a movement to the belt 10 to move the carriage 8 and the arm 4 in translation.

[0043] In other words, according to the example presented here, the translation means 6 comprise a carriage 8 whose translational movement is controlled by a belt 10, the belt 10 being set in motion by a pulley, itself connected to a geared motor assembly. Furthermore, according to the example presented here, the geared motor assembly is set in motion by the electric motorization located in the control block.

[0044] According to a particularly advantageous arrangement, the translation means 6 comprise at least one safety stop making it possible to limit a translational movement of the arm 4. Typically, the translation means 6 comprise two stops. A first stop is positioned at a first desired limit of the translational movement of the slide. A second stop is positioned at a second desired limit of the translational movement of the slide.

[0045] Arms

[0046] As shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, each arm 4 of the device 1 comprises a first part 12 connected to the carriage 8 and a second part 14 pivotally connected to the first part 12. Typically the first part 12 and the second part 14 of each arm 4 can be made of a lattice of metal profiles, such as food-grade stainless steel. This arrangement allows the arms 4 to be strong while being washable and inexpensive to manufacture. However, according to other arrangements, the parts of each arm 4 can be made of composite materials or polymers.

[0047] Each arm 4 comprises a pipe 16 allowing the circulation of a food (a food product), such as for example minced meat. In a particularly advantageous manner, the pipe 16 comprises a first part 18 fixed to the first part 12 of the arm 4 and comprises a second part 20 fixed to the second part 14 of the arm 4, the first part 18 of the pipe 16 and the second part 20 of the pipe 16 being connected by a pivot connection allowing the circulation of a food between the first part 18 of the pipe 16 and the second part 20 of the pipe 16.

[0048] According to the example presented here, the two parts of each arm 4 are of unequal length. The first part 12 is pivotally fixed around the carriage 8. In a particularly advantageous manner, the first part 12 can have a rotation amplitude of approximately 180° around the carriage 8. The continuity of the piping is ensured by rotating connections (204) to maintain a complete rotation. According to the example presented here, the first part 12 is approximately 3400 mm long. Naturally, according to other embodiments, the first part 12 can have another length.

[0049] According to the embodiment presented here, the second part 14 is pivotable around the first part 12 and holds a filling head. In a particular manner Particularly advantageously, the second part 14 can have a rotation amplitude of approximately 350° around the first part 12. According to the example presented here, the second part 14 is approximately 2300 mm long. Naturally, according to other embodiments, the second part 14 can have another length.

[0050] According to a particularly advantageous arrangement, between the first part 12 and the carriage 8, and between the first part 12 and the second part 14, a mechanically welded and machined sheath incorporates bearings to allow rotation without effort from the filling head and therefore from the position of the operator. However, since both parts have a certain load, it is necessary to control the inertia during the maneuvering of the arm 4, which is why, in a particularly advantageous manner, the device 1 incorporates a pneumatic brake. In operation, the brake can be kept controlled by a pressure regulator. Similarly, when the arm 4 is washed, the brake can be kept locked to avoid any impromptu movement.

[0051] Head

[0052] As described previously, each arm 4 has a filling head 24 which is fixed to one end of the second part 14 of the arm 24 and which is connected to the pipe 16.

[0053] According to the embodiment presented here, the head 24 comprises an ejection nozzle 26 with two handles 28 and 30.

[0054] In a particularly advantageous manner, the handles 28 and 30 are articulated so that the operator's hand does not have to adapt to the height of the filling head. In other words, the articulation of the handles 28 and 30 makes the device 1 even more ergonomic.

[0055] According to the example presented here, a first handle 28 has a light button for starting a pump sending food into the pipe 16. The light of the light button indicates the presence or absence of food in the pump and in the pipe 16. This arrangement allows the operator to have direct information on the presence of food in the pipe 16, without having to move, which further reinforces the ergonomics of the device 1.

[0056] According to the example presented here, a second handle 30 has two illuminated buttons, a first button for the request to raise (translation of the slide in a first direction), a second button for the request to lower the arm 4 (translation of the slide in a second direction). By default the light of each illuminated button of the second handle 30 is on, when the light is off, this means that the slide has reached an extreme position and that it is not possible to go further in the desired direction.

[0057] According to the example presented here, the head 24 also includes an emergency stop button which makes it possible to instantly block any movement.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the embodiment presented here, the nozzle 26 of the head 24 has a contact sensor which makes it possible to stop a translational movement of the arm if the contact sensor presses on a solid element. In other words, this arrangement makes it possible to stop a translational movement if the head 24 is hitting an obstacle. This arrangement makes it possible to reinforce safety for the user (the movement is stopped in the event of a collision with the user) and for the integrity of the device 1 (the movement is stopped in the event of a collision with another object, which prevents damage to the device 1).

Claims

Claims

1. Filling device (1) comprising a frame (2) and at least one arm (4), the arm (4) being rotatably connected to the frame (2), the device (1) being characterized in that it comprises translation means (6) connecting the arm (4) to the frame (2), so that the arm (4) can pivot and be moved in translation relative to the frame (2).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, in which the translation means (6) comprise at least one carriage (8) supporting the arm (4) and adapted to be moved in translation relative to the chassis (2).

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the arm (4) is connected to the carriage (8) by a pivot connection, so that the arm (4) pivots relative to the carriage (8) and the chassis (2).

4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the translation means (6) comprise a belt (10), the belt (10) being adapted to transmit a movement to the carriage (8) to move the carriage (8) and the arm (4) in translation.

5. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the translation means (6) comprise at least one pulley adapted to transmit a movement to the belt (10) to move the carriage (8) and the arm (4) in translation.

6. Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the translation means (6) comprise at least one geared motor assembly adapted to transmit a movement to the pulley to transmit a movement to the belt (10) to move the carriage (8) and the arm (4) in translation.

7. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the translation means (6) comprise at least one safety stop making it possible to limit a translational movement of the arm (4).

8. Device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the arm (4) comprises a first part (12) connected to the carriage (8) and a second part (14) pivotally connected to the first part (12).

9. Device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the arm (4) comprises a pipe (16) allowing the circulation of a food such as meat.

10. A device (1) according to claims 8 and 9 in combination, wherein the pipe (16) comprises a first part (18) fixed to the first part (12) of the arm (4) and comprises a second part (20) fixed to the second part (14) of the arm (4), the first part (18) of the pipe (16) and the second part (20) of the pipe (16) being connected by a pivot connection allowing the circulation of food between the first part (18) of the pipe (16) and the second part (20) of the pipe (16).

11. Device (1) according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the arm has a filling head (24) which is fixed to one end of the arm and which is connected to the pipe (16), the head (24) comprises an ejection nozzle (26), the nozzle (26) having at least one contact sensor making it possible to stop a translational movement of the arm (24) if the contact sensor presses on a solid element.

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